Defiance, Ohio: The Great DepressionThe Great Depression (2006)No Idea Records

Reviewer Rating: 4.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: Ben_ConoleyBen_Conoley(others by this writer | submit your own)Published on May 12th 2006If anything, one has to give Defiance, Ohio credit for originality. Despite the frequent comparisons they receive to current label-mates This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb or previous label-mates Ghost Mice, Defiance, Ohio have crafted their own distinct sound within the impressive American folk-punk movement.

If anything, one has to give Defiance, Ohio credit for originality. Despite the frequent comparisons they receive to current label-mates This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb or previous label-mates Ghost Mice, Defiance, Ohio have crafted their own distinct sound within the impressive American folk-punk movement.

The Indiana six-piece have been fairly prolific since they released a demo a mere three years ago. The Great Depression is their second full-length, but they've done a number of splits and have posted a great deal of material (including demos, live sets, full-length, and splits) for free download to fans.

When the band jumped ship from Plan-it-X Records to -- gas -- No Idea Records, some dumpster-divers screamed "sell out," but for the most part, the move made sense. No Idea is the current home of Plan-it-X vets This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb and was home to Against Me! for a number of years. Working with No Idea allowed the band access to better production and distribution as well as maintaining some sense of ideological compatibility.

So how does this album compare with 2004's Share What Ya' Got? If they received a handbag of cash to put towards recording costs, the money might have gotten lost along the way. Sure, the album sounds cleaner than previous efforts, but not so much that the term "over-produced" could even approach it. Sometimes the less-than-stellar production can be great, especially when they leave the more classy instruments such as the violin and cello with a less-polished sound than those instruments are traditionally provided. However, sometimes the drumming and vocals fade into the background a little too much, leaving it more apparent that the majority of the songs on the album seem to have been based around the violin and cello, rather than using them as backup. Without the violin and cello, songs like "Enough" would fall apart almost completely. Color me traditionalist, but I prefer my punk songs to be guitar-based.

The album's strongest area is the spirit it carries. Defiance, Ohio are champions of promoting the values needed to live a positive life -- being honest and critical of yourself and your motives. They seem to shout again and again that hey, you can live a better life -- we can lead better lives. They don't spend too much time crafting rally cries against "the
system," instead, urging the listener to think about their political criticisms and apply them to their own lives, such as on "Enough:"

So with one hand in a fist, please keep one hand in the air
questioning 'what does all this have to do with me?'
Stop making something! Start making sense! (Can we stop making something until we start making sense?)

The spirit of the band also shines when it becomes evident that they really like making music. The Great Depression sounds like it was recorded as an impromptu reaction to boredom on a Friday night. With every member sharing vocal duties and contributing to the songwriting, Defiance, Ohio bring a great deal of variety into what could have been moments of boredom for the listener.

You can download the album for free from the band, but at only $6.00 on LP/CD from No Idea, it's a shame not to get the real deal.

It's alot easier to steal food than grab it out of a dumpster. Also less likely to kill you in most cases.

This band isn't nearly as good as oh so many on here make them out to be, which is a shame because you guys got me all excited to hear it. They get bonus points for Fugazi-like pricing/the option to download first.

Anonymous (May 17, 2006)

No, I'm just saying that if you're going about it by LITERALLY dumpstering the food, you're putting yourself at a health risk. Dumpsters are filled with piss, mold, and other stuff that has bacteria that a loosely tied garbage bag will not be able to keep out. You can always ask bakeries for day-olds before they throw them out. Or do what a lot of people do and wait til they take them out to the trash, but just have them give the food to you.

And what kind of stupid reason are you bringing "class" politics and generalizations into this for? Is this some sort of "lower class stupid reactionism?"

Whatev's, man, I'm sorry, but if you don't need to eat garbage food, you probably shouldn't. Just being in a dumpster contaminates that stuff. As I said, if you genuinely need to eat that to survive, that's another matter.

Was just going to post to say that I love this record, and am excited about Defiance, Ohio coming to the UK in September but...

How has this turned from a record review into some kind of elitist class war?

Whatever anybody wants or needs to do to get by, so long as it doesn't adversely affect you personally is none of your business.

I don't think any of the issues raised on this album would condone this kind of utter fucking elitism - how dare you condemn someone else for either how they choose or how they need to live their life?

As for everyone on PunkNews owning a computer/being able to afford the internet - you get internet computers in public libraries and internet cafes, not everyone here owns a fucking iMac, you know.

But yeah, in summary, good album from Defiance, Ohio.

Anonymous (May 16, 2006)

I guess if you're actually impoverished, I can understand, but if you can afford the internet, but still eat garbage food, you've got problems.

I know very few who eat out of dumpsters. I know more people who collect food for charities, but maybe that's because I'm not a scumbag.

I'm not sure what that last dig means at all.
I know a ton of "white punk kids" who subsist primarily off of dumpster food, especially bread. Their reasoning is that it's being thrown out, but its not actually "bad" in any way so why let it go to waste? Reducing waste is important.

Not that I do it that much, only when times get a bit tough.

Anonymous (May 15, 2006)

Well, I meant "most food white punk kids collect."

I know very few who eat out of dumpsters. I know more people who collect food for charities, but maybe that's because I'm not a scumbag.

I agree with that sentiment Will, but from my experience a lot of the punks who dumpster stuff just do it so they can tell their friends "Check out my new shirt! Yeah, I just dumpstered it blah blah blah". At least where I live, that's how it seems to me.

And about the D,OH thing, I think their first album sucked. Whether they sound like AM! or not, I just didn't like it. This album kicks ass though, definitely one of the best of '06.

I made a really long response to Travolta's comment, but it said the "session timed out." What the fuck? This happens at least half the time I comment.

Anyway, I basically said that there's more stuff to be dumpstered than food (like clothes, music, etc.) and that most edible throw-out food is collected before it's literally put in a dumpster so organizations can still serve it at things like Food Not Bombs. America wastes fucking EVERYTHING. Why add to the problem? There's enough shit in dumpsters to go around!

Also, don't use "retarded" as an insult. I know the handicapped can seldom defend themselves, but it's no excuse to treat them like living trash.

Anonymous (May 14, 2006)

alright alright, hold on guys. why are we tearing this guy down? i mean, yeah after i read the statement of the Axl Rose b-sides, that pissed me off. and i'll admit, i was a bit of jerk saying it. But the things OpIvy said, i mean, he was just making an observation. The dumster diving thing i think is a legitmate statement, he isn't saying everyone, but some. And sounds similiar...well again i don't agree at all, cause they are vastly different. But still, i already addressed that issue! haha. no but seriously, i mean....i don't know...

Anonymous (May 14, 2006)

"Dumpster diving is fucking retarded. If you have enough money to buy a computer and post on a message board then you're rich enough to buy food."

Because you're 100% sure the people that post here own a computer? Wow, you've got skills.

"Never said they were ripping off against me!, just sounds way too similair."

Yep, too bad they sound nothing alike. At all. Vocals? Nope. Music? Nope. Get the shit out of your ears.

Dumpster diving is fucking retarded. If you have enough money to buy a computer and post on a message board then you're rich enough to buy food. Leave the free food for some homeless person that actually needs it.

Anonymous (May 13, 2006)

really good stuff. yum!

Anonymous (May 13, 2006)

This score is for the last 2 comments. Truth.

-opivy

Anonymous (May 13, 2006)

Most dumpster divers I know are too busy enjoying free food to be yelling sell out at anyone.

Maybe at times criticism of the anarchist punk scene or whatever they call themselves is warranted, but most of the tension is senseless resentment on your guys' part. You all assume that the Plan it X scene is a bunch of homeless shelter kids who dumpster dive and hate everyone. Not so. A lot of them are really nice people.

This band is infinitely better live than on record, and they're pretty gosh darn good on record. I would start with Share What Ya Got to get into these guys. This is really good stuff, but not their best by any means.

Anonymous (May 13, 2006)

"Great stuff. They should do some Short Millie covers. That would be hilarious."

Where any of these guys in Short Millie? It's been a hell of a long time since I heard anyone mention them. Just curious.

yeah if anyone really followed plan-it-x they would know that Chris is really close with guys from No Idea. They're both DIY labels and I haven't heard anyone even bring up the topic of selling out with the exception of this review.

Pretty good. I need to give this a few more spins before I really decide what I think of it but on the surface it's a very fun record.

-adam

Anonymous (May 12, 2006)

Fucking amazing band. I prefer Share What Ya' Got to this cd, but that's not to say that this is weak in any way. Bring on more reviews!

-opivy

Anonymous (May 12, 2006)

I don't think the reviewer spent much time trying to fabricate drama or making vague statements at all. He mentions for a few lines about them being on No Idea and spends 90% of the review talkling about the music. What Defiance, Ohio stands for is as much a part of their music as their guitars.

Good review

Anonymous (May 12, 2006)

This review seems to be more concerned with fabricating drama and making vague statements rather than actually reviewing the music.

Truth.

Anonymous (May 12, 2006)

This review seems to be more concerned with fabricating drama and making vague statements rather than actually reviewing the music.

I've never seen/heard a single person who called Defiance, Ohio a sellout for releasing this on No Idea. First off, other than a single split with Ghost Mice, Defiance, Ohio never released anything on PIX. Their only full length was self-released, and their other split was on Anti-Creative, so they never really "jumped ship" from PIX since they weren't really directly affiliated with the label in the first place. Second, regardless of the previous, pretty much every "dumpster-diver" has no qualms at all with No Idea. I mean, shit, you're acting like there was some minor Against Me-esque backlash or something, when there wasn't ANY backlash at all.

Also, No Idea isn't really the current home of This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb. Their most recent album was released in LP format on No Idea, but the CD was released on PIX. So No Idea is no more the current home of them than PIX is.

they are from Ohio. Share What Ya Got expressed alot of their feelings on moving from Ohio.

But great band with a great message. This guy hit it right on the head, they sing more about realizing who you are and what you are doing. Its great. check it out

Anonymous (May 12, 2006)

i don't think Mitch Clem pimps this band.

Anyway, i've been waiting forever for a review for this record. I was going to write one myself but never found the time or really felt like writing something. eh. but this album is amazing. if you haven't heard it, go be stupid and download it for free on their website. Then understand their amazingness and buy it from No Idea for 6 bucks. These are a great bunch of guys (and girls). and its, like i said, amazing music.

As well i'd just like to say stop being stupid. If your someone who blames any recent liking of folk punk on Against Me! your an idiot. For one thing, it isn't "recent" and for another thing any band that comes out that "sounds" like Against Me! isn't around cause of Against Me!, i mean they probably factor into it. But you know how many people were influenced by Woody Guthrie? Bob Dylan? come on...